Apparatus for refloating sunken vessels



M. ARIURA APPARATUS FOR REFLOATING SUNKEN VESSELS.

4 APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1920.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

UNITED STATES MURAJI ARIURA, OF TOKYO, JAPAN.

APPARATUS FOR REFLOATING SUNKEN VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 5, 1921.

Application filed January 24, 1920. Serial No. 353,835.

T 0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MURAJI ARIURA, subject of Japan, residing at No. 3 Nichome, Yumicho, Hongo Ku, Tokyo, Japan, have invented new and useful Improvements 1n Apparatus for Refloating Sunken Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements 1n apparatus for raising sunken vessels and other objects by means of floating tanks. ()ne object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient apparatus for the purpose set forth, whereby the operatlng ship and the sunken obj eot are connected in such a way that the floating tank can be sunk directly over the object, said tank being guided to the proper position by means of ropes, said ropes being secured to the float ing tank after the latter is sunk, and whereby the sunken object is raised by the buoyancy of the floating tank, which is exhausted of water by charging it with compressed air from the working ship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floating tank capable of being sunk, the speed of ascent of which tank, together with the object to be raised, is automatically adjusted by means of valves adapted to open and admit water into the tank when the rising speed of the latter exceeds a predetermined limit, thereby to check such speed.

The accompanying drawings show my in vention in which Figure 1 is an end elevation showing the working relations of the apparatus, operating ship and sunken object.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the floating tank.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the floating tank with a part broken away.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view of a part of the floating tank showing the automatic speed regulating device attached thereto, and

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the device for regulating the speed.

The same reference number indicates the same or corresponding part throughout all the figures.

My invention consists of a floating tank 1, ropes 2 which are tied to the sunken object and which guide the floating tank when it is sunk, and another rope 3 with which the sunken object is connected to the floating tank 1. In Fig. 1, 4 represents the working ship and 5, the object to be raised.

The floating tank 1 is provided with an air inlet 6 to which is connected a flexible pipe 8 through which compressed air is forced into the floating tank 1 from the working ship. It is also provided with a water discharge pipe 7. On each ide of the floating tank 1 there are two pairs of grooved pulleys 10 13 for guiding the ropes 2. The blocks of the pulleys 10 are firmly fixed to the piece 9, but the blocks of the pulleys 13 are movable on the same piece 9 by means of a screw 11, so that when the rope 2 is inserted between the pulleys 10 and 13, the latter is first separated from the former and when the rope 2 is in place the pulleys 13 are screwed back so as to keep the rope 2 in the space formed by the grooves of the two pulleys. On each side of the floating tank there are hooks 17 19 20 on which the rope 2 is to be hitched by doubling it as isrepresented by dotted lines in Fig. 2. There are also fastening pieces 18 which keep the ropes 2 fast at places where they are doubled, the fastening pieces being hinged on one end 14: and are provided with a screw 15 on the other. The floating tank 1 has also at its bottom pulleys 21 to receive thei rope 3 for attachment to the sunken artic e.

To raise a sunken vessel or any other object with my apparatus, the ropes 2 are lowered from the working ship and fastened to the sunken object. The ropes 2 are then pulled tight and the tank 1 which is floating on the water surface is brought between the ropes 2 which are then inserted between the pulleys 10 and 18. Then the tank is filled with water, and it will sink down to just above the sunken object, being guided by the ropes 2. Then the ropes 2 are doubled and hitched on the hooks 17 19 20, as shown in Fig. 2' by dotted lines, the fastening pieces 18 screwed fast, and the rope 3 secured to the sunken object is passed over the pulleys 21, and the water in the floating tank is expelled through the discharge pipe 7, by sending thereinto compressed air from the operating ship through the flexible pipe 8 and air. inlet 6. Thus the sunken object will be raised by the force with which the floating tank 1 comes to the water surface.

However, if the floating tank comes up with too great a force, the shock when it reaches the water surface may damage the object raised and also the apparatus itself. To prevent such an accident, my apparatus is provided with a device which automatically adjusts the speed with which the floating tank comes up to the surface. It consists of wings 22 which horizontally project from the floating tank, and valves or cocks 23 which are controlled by movement of the said wings 22. The valve or cock 23 is opened or closed by Ineansof a lever such as 24 which is connected with the wings 22 by a connecting rod 25. The valves or cocks are also pressed to the closing position by springs 26. when the floating tank comes up with too great speed, the resistance of water will become very great and the wings 227which are hinged to the tank will be pushed downward, which will open the valves, allow part of the air contained in the vtank to escape and cause water to run into the tank to take the place of the air that has escaped. This will slowdown the speed with which the floating tank has been floating up.

I claim 2- 1. In'an apparatus for raising sunken objects, a floating tank provided with a water inlet'pipe and air discharge ports, spring actuated valves for closing said ports, wings hinged to said tank anchprojecting horizontally therefrom, and means for connecting said valves to said wings.

2. In an apparatus for raising sunken objects, a floating tank provided with a water inlet pipe and air discharge ports, spring actuated valves for closing said ports, wings hinged to said tankand projecting horizontally therefrom, and lever mechanism between said valves and wings for opening said valves against the tension of their springs when the wings are swung on their hinges in one direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

MURAJI ARIURA. 

